Malaysian-Indian party to discuss internal polls

Kuala Lumpur: With the general elections over, Malaysia`s largest ethnic Indian political party will discuss on Friday its forthcoming organisational polls that have been postponed since last year.

Newly-appointed party secretary-general A Sakthivel said the party elections would be among the issues to be discussed at the Malaysian Indian Congress central working committee (CWC) meeting.

He said the CWC meeting would also discuss the party`s performance in the May 5 general election, where it won only four of nine parliamentary seats and five out of 18 state seats contested.

The CWC, the party`s highest decision-making body, had decided that the party elections, scheduled for last year, be postponed to allow the party to concentrate on general elections.

MIC vice-president M Saravanan said the CWC was empowered to postpone the party elections but it had yet to set a time frame as to when these would be held.

Under the MIC constitution, the presidential election is to be held three months before the election for other national positions, including for deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 CWC members.

At the last elections in March 2009, former works minister S Samy Vellu retained the presidency for a record 11th term, without contest.

He, however, stepped down in December 2010 to pave the way for journalist-turned-politician G Palanivel to become acting president.

Meanwhile, MIC treasurer-general Jaspal Singh has allayed fears among some members that the party risks being de-registered if the party elections are not held this year.

He said the party had complied with all requirements under the Societies Act and the MIC is a democratic party that takes compliance with the law seriously.